Mexico vs South Africa LIVE: World Cup 2026 latest score, match stream, goal updates
Julian Quinones scores first goal of the tournament
Mexico vs South Africa LIVE
Alex Young, Senior Sport Editor
9 minutes ago
Mexico vs South Africa LIVE
A game years in the making as the 2026 World Cup finally kicks off tonight in Mexico City. Thousands have descended on the famous Azteca Stadium for the first of 104 games across three host nations. Mexico host the opening game of the tournament for a record-breaking third time, and it is a repeat of the 2010 tournament-opener which ended as a draw in Johannesburg.
Mexico will have high hopes of a deep run, and should win Group A with South Korea and Czechia lying in wait after tonight's opener. England fans will want to take a good look at the game, as they could be seeing far more of Mexico in the last-16 stage if predictions are correct. El Tri have not played a World Cup knockout match in four decades.
Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, have qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since they hosted it 16 years ago, and are looking to escape the group stage for the first time in their history. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog below!
Mexico vs South Africa latest news
GOAL! Quinones nets first goal of World Cup
Half-time!
50min: And that's your lot for the first half of the first game.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
49min: Oh dear, oh dear. Gutierrez should make it two before the break. A lovely move from Mexico slips him into the area, but the forward cannot make up his mind over shooting or passing... and does a mixture of the two.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
48min: Modiba gets in a tangle with Alvarado and wins a corner... but the referee doesn't agree and awards a goal kick. Isn't VAR supposed to check those things now?
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
46min: Four minutes added on.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
45min: Mokoena has a pop from 30 yards, which is well-hit and on target... but easy for Rangel in goal.
OFF THE POST!
43min: Mexico denied again, this time with Williams beaten but Quinones's effort comes back off the base of the post.
SAVE!
42min: Jimenez denied again! A beauty of a curled ball over the stop lands on Jimenez's outstretched toe, and Williams needs to be fully alert to palm the ball away.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
36min: That's better! A promising attack down the left from Mexico almost carves open a chance, but Mbokazi is on hand to get in a crucial block.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
33min: Tempted to take back that last update, as Mexico have been quite untidy and slack in possession since. Luckily for them, South Africa have been pretty woeful.
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
30min: More impetus from Mexico after that water break. They are looking for a second goal.
